PHO Alliance welcomes move to timely patient care

The Primary Health Organisation (PHO)
Alliance has responded positively to the Health Minister’s
announcement that the claiming of General Medical Subsidy
(GMS) is to be extended to other health professionals within
the general practice team.

“For too long, access to
timely and responsive care for vulnerable and high needs
patients has been restricted by unhelpful red-tape which has
failed to recognise the high quality and personalised care
provided by nurses, pharmacists and allied health
professionals within general practice” says PHO Alliance
chairman, John Ayling.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has
signaled a move which is intended to allow health
professionals, in addition to GPs, to generate GMS claims
for care provided to many patients within general practice
settings.

Dr Andrew Miller, PHO Alliance Executive
Committee Member and GP providing services to a
predominantly high needs community in Northland, says that
the announcement has the potential to significantly improve
access to care for patients in areas of high need or where
GP cover is limited, such as for rural communities.

“Where general practice has been providing care in
areas of typically high need and deprivation, the funding
rules have not supported the need to move towards integrated
multi-disciplinary working to provide care when and where
patients need it – this move should now provide much
needed recognition of the vital contribution made in such
areas by other members of the primary care team such as
nurses and pharmacists”.

But Dr Miller also warned that
the supporting business rules will need to be developed in
such a way as to ensure funds are not diverted away from
existing services for those same vulnerable and high-needs
patients.

John Ayling says he looks forward to the PHO
Alliance working with Ministry of Health colleagues over the
coming months to develop the rules and framework which will
ensure the intention of this announcement is firmly
translated into better access, better care and better
outcomes for those communities and families most at need.

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